Oblivion

Tron Legacy director Joseph Kosinki discusses his upcoming post-apocalyptic epic, in which Tom Cruise is the last person living on Earth... or so he believes:

I wrote this treatment for this small character driven science fiction film that I knew I had to keep contained if it was ever going to be my first movie. So I modeled it thinking back to Omega Man or Silent Running, these very character driven stories that had a small cast of characters but set against an epic backdrop with big ideas. In terms of the look and my vision for it I felt that I wanted to do something that I hadn't seen in a while, which was a daytime science fiction film. After Alien, which is one of my favorites, science fiction kind of went into a very dark place for a long time and I thought it would be an interesting challenge to bring it into the daylight. So this aesthetic of taking this kind of very clean refined technology set against a rugged backdrop, which ended up being Iceland. For me that juxtaposition of those two looks felt like something that could be very unique. For whatever reason that was something that came to me very clearly and something that we stuck to and that has worked throughout the whole film.

He also explains why M83 provides the score for this film, much as Daft Punk did for Tron Legacy:

It had to be an artist whose music fit the themes and story I was trying to tell. And M83's music I felt was fresh and original, and big and epic, but at the same time emotional and this is a very emotional film and it felt like a good fit. So I talked to him very early and he was finishing up his latest album at the time and I am so excited. I brought in Joe Trapaese, the orchestrator from Tron: Legacy is now the orchestrator on this so it's very similar arrangement of talent. I'm as excited about what we're doing musically for this film as I was for Tron.

Right, well the look of Jack Harper's costume had to fit the world he was living in; the bubble ship, the sky tower, all had to feel like one consistent aesthetic. I wanted it to feel like everything is connected. It has to feel consistent the technology, the palate and the materials. Jack's suit, you know, we haven't seen our science fiction hero in a white suit before I don't think, that's a unique look. So that certainly was one of the aesthetic challenges that you have to push through an industry that's used to having heroes in black. Pick any movie all these palates look the same, so having to switch that on its head was one of the early challenges of pushing this aesthetic through, but that's what makes something look different you've got to change the perception around it a little bit. I worked as hard on the design of the costumes as everything else and had a great costume designer to collaborate with on this movie in Marlene Stewart.

After Earth

Here's the poster for another post-apocalyptic epic, this one starring the father-and-son team of Will and Jaden Smith. You might notice this poster complete skips over the fact that M. Night Shyamalan is directing — though not writing, which might be a good sign — this thing. [Screen Crush]

Transformers 4

This quote is a little old, but no matter; whenever I come across Mark Wahlberg talking in ludicrously rarefied terms about his starring role in Michael Bay's fourth Transformers movie, it's my journalistic duty — nay, privilege — to pass it along:

I'm really excited about Transformers. Michael Bay and I just did Pain & Gain and we had such a good time making it. He came to me and said, "I'm kind of doing a whole different reboot on Transformers. Are you interested?" I said, "Yeah, I'll do it!" I loved the idea and I think we can make something really cool and kick-ass. This is not something where it's already established and I'm just in there to get a paycheck. I'm thinking this is the most important role of my career and I can do something really special."

Yes, that's right: "This is the most important role of my career." Take that, The Departed, The Fighter, and especiallyBoogie Nights! [Coming Soon]

Terminator 5

I think producer Megan Ellison owns the rights to Terminator 16, or whatever it is. Yes, five. They have been trying to put a script together but I've not seen it, so I've no idea. There's nothing on the drawing board at this point. Nothing on the plan.

Also, he explains why he doesn't regret playing Mr. Freeze in Batman and Robin: "I felt that the character was interesting and two movies before that one Joel Schumacher was at his height. So the decision-making process was not off." [Empire Magazine via Comic Book Movie]

Jack the Giant Slayer

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Walton Goggins, who is just beyond brilliant as Boyd Crowder on Justified, discusses his "funny" turn as Warden Nigel James in the delayed, possibly retooled G.I. Joe sequel:

I'm one of the comic reliefs, yeah, absolutely. He's got some really good one-liners and we were able to go off script a little bit and improvise some stuff with director Jon Chu. It's just a visual extravaganza, it's so much fun, and it's a really good movie. I've seen it and I'm really excited for it to come out.

"We wanted to see [Samus] struggle, to be humbled, and to be forced to rise up against crazy odds. And of course we wanted to see the cool weapons in all of their glory. Things started to go south when we tried to dig into the character a bit more. As you know, any film needs a deeper story arc than what is told in the game, where we learn about the characters and their world. What are they doing when they are NOT fighting? What is their daily existence and relationships? What are Samus's aspirations, history, and fears? Nintendo appreciated the questions, but had never thought about them before, and ultimately didn't have a lot of answers. In the end, they felt uncomfortable with our team being the ones to propose those answers."

Honestly, that probably could double as an explanation as to why a bunch of other video game adaptations never quite got off the ground. [IGN]

Doctor Who

New star Jenna-Louise Coleman discusses the show's upcoming 50th anniversary special on November 23, 2013, pretty much confirming that she will indeed be remaining with the show beyond the end of season seven, which to this point I don't think had been made clear either way:

"I'm excited about everything... Making the 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who will be epic – Steven Moffat [the show's writer/producer] said it will be something we'll talk about in our dotage and he's right. So watch this space!"

She also offers this intriguing take on the Doctor and Clara's relationship:

Well, I think Clara is definitely a match for him. They are both as stubborn as each other and they challenge each other. It's almost more of a reluctant friendship. They are totally bemused by each other but are drawn together like magnets — they can't help liking each other but are constantly trying to work the other out.

A pair of reports suggest the seventh season finale will be set at least partially in Victorian Scotland. Actor Rab Affleck says he filmed a scene wearing period clothing similar to those he wore in the 1862-set Gangs of New York, although the Doctor Who scene took place in a Glasgow pub. Elsewhere, the mother of 10-year-old Samuel Irvine says her son was cast in the episode, and that the show was looking for a young Scottish boy for the role. [Blogtor Who]

Once Upon a Time

Showrunner Adam Horowitz has confirmed by Twitter that Julian Morris will return to his season premiere role of Prince Philip in an upcoming episode. I'm still seriously confused why they don't just get the Duke of Edinburgh to play himself, but what the hey. [SpoilerTV]

Star Josh Dallas says Prince Charming and Snow White will face more obstacles in upcoming episodes, and Prince Charming may also come into conflict with Hook. He adds:

Of course, there are things happening in Storybrooke that the Charming family has to deal with first. Besides Cora and Hook showing up, we have something else that's happening that needs the family's attention. There are things that are going on that prevent them from kind of really taking that time to relax], but they find their way around it and start talking about their future.

Arrow

I think Yao Fei thinks that Oliver can potentially help him get off the island. He sees him as an extra hand. But there could be other reasons that may come into play as the series progresses.

Do you know how Yao Fei landed on the island and how he got to be as he is now?
There have been hints that he was a former Chinese intelligence officer and also that he might have been a criminal that was sent to this island. But nothing is definitive at this point. I'm finding out information as we shoot.

The Vampire Diaries

Executive producer Julie Plec previews what's ahead for some of the characters as the second half of the season approaches:

Shane is the captain of the crazy train in the next chapter, which is really all about revealing more about his agenda, learning more about this mythical character of Silas that he keeps mentioning, getting closer and closer to the location and the means to dig up both the cure and Silas - and then the fallout of that choice and what that all means.

How is Jeremy going to be dealing with controlling his hunter urges?
He's going to be a hardcore, lean and mean vampire-fighting machine over the next couple episodes – but with an unlikely coach in the form of Damon Salvatore. So there's some fun to be had there and a lot of danger for both of them. … They're definitely going to have to figure out how to get that mark to grow. Damon's not going to just unleash Jeremy into the vampire den until he feels like he's properly trained and ready.

She also discusses Klaus's long-term character arc:

The beauty of Klaus, much like Damon, is that his horrible misdeeds are all born out of a place of a complete lack of trust and faith as a result of being repeatedly betrayed and rejected in his life. I'm not saying I excuse his horrific behavior, but it's born from a very human place. Once someone's got a strong core of humanity, there's hope for them – [they may] just not necessarily wake up tomorrow as Man of the Year. Klaus will continue to be a very complicated character. Much like Damon in the first couple seasons, when he feels backed up against the wall, he lashes out in very, very destructive ways. It makes it impossible to forgive. And yet, the redemption of Klaus as a character-long arc is something we always talk about.